vanni shifted under the heavy silk sheets, her body aching in places she didn't

ight would be the start of her real life. Her father had promised that the Van-Doren na

t like

bathroom door, she could see the silhouette of the Alph

obbed where he had marked her. The skin was hot and swollen, the jag

around his low waist. His chest was a roadmap of scars from battles and p

er voice was

. The muscles in his should

. And the injection Yvet

same clinical interest a scientist might give a lab rat.

ters," he said, his voice flat. "It will pass by noo

, I don't understand. I'm healthy. Why am I taking medi

gainst the headboard with nothing but his shadow. He smelled

n't do it gently. He pressed down until she winced. "I don't have time for slow. I need the bloodline se

rs pricking her eyes. "This doesn't fee

she had burned him. "You were brought here for a purpose,

oth

back to the closet and pul

will be outside the door. You stay

anni said, her voice small. "My fat

, his expression unreadable. "Your father said a lot of things to get that ch

argue. He grabbed his coat and walked out, the click of

han she ever had in her life. She was the Luna of the most power

e door. It wasn't the heavy, rhythmic

He wasn't supposed to be there. Russell

d, leaning against the doorframe. He was

," Giovanni said, wiping her eyes

et the tea on the nightstand. "And I've never been very good at fo

ea suspiciously. "How do

pens in this house, Gio. I know about the injections. I know about the contract. And I kno

, though her voice lacked convicti

ailing along the edge of the silk sheet she was clutching. "He doesn't see

t. He marked me.

ed you because he had to. Do you even know who you replaced

froze. "W

ough. The one who couldn't handle the injections. My brother doesn't accept failure,

she breathed,

ette about the 'previous brides' when she comes to stick t

e door, his han

tea isn't from the kitchen. I made it myself. Unlike Russell

e sound of heavy footstep

't Xavier. It was Yvette, and she wasn't alone. Sh

face a mask of professional coldness. "Lie back and

en at the door, then at the sil

bling. "Yvette, who was here before m

stopped mid-air. She slowly turned to look

d. "And you have too many questions fo

Giovanni could scream, they grabbed he

nni struggled, but the

delier. "Don't fight it, dear. The Alpha wants a son. And

nt door slammed open downstairs. A man'

voice screamed. "W

hat was her father's voice

te barked, pushing

g hit her bloodstream. Through the haze, she saw the bedroom door burs